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About Us
The North Carolina Tennis Foundation
The North Carolina Tennis Foundation was organized in 1961 for the purpose of promoting tennis and education and working hand-in-hand with its sister organization, North Carolina Tennis Association, now known as USTA North Carolina. The Foundation provides financial support to many worthwhile tennis programs across the state. These opportunities include the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) Network, the NC State High School Championships, Adaptive Tennis, and numerous grants.
Not only does the North Carolina Tennis Foundation support tennis programs, but it also maintains the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame and works on numerous projects to preserve the history of tennis in North Carolina.
The NC Tennis Foundation and Hall of Fame are located at 2709 Henry Street, Greensboro, N.C. 27405.
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The NC Tennis Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible. Tax-ID 56-6060900.
2025 NC Tennis Foundation Board of Directors
Front Row (L-R) Vicki Everett, Paula Hale, Debbie Southern (Secretary), Cookie Guarini, Dru Michaels, Second Row (L-R) Cy King, Donna Gast, Lindsey Linker, Bonnie Vandegrift, Susan Love, John McCabe Third Row (L-R) Ted Reese (Vice President), Jim Corn, Mark Dillon (President), Herb Browne, Jr., Henry Hostetler,
4th Row (L-R) Rodney Matthews (Treasurer), Andy Avram, Alex Rucker
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*Not Pictured: Kim McMillon Coston, Billy Trott, Gray Smith, Alfred Mays, Richard Holderness (Vice President), Lou Welch, Alex Okulski , Allen Farfour, Leslie McIver, Malcomb Graham,
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Kelly Gaines
Executive Director
Kelly, a native North Carolinian, has served as the Executive Director of both the North Carolina Tennis Foundation and USTA North Carolina since 1995.   Prior to NC Tennis, Kelly competed in NC as a junior, played at Peace College and served as the NC State University Head Women's Tennis Coach for several years.
Kelly Lombardino
Director of Development and Programs
Kelly joined the NC Tennis Family in January of 2021. She previously worked with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), where she spent nearly 30 years selling & marketing CCL's training & development programs, products, and services. Kelly brings the NCTF a wealth of business development and strategic partnership experience, blended with a reputation for acquiring the resources to reach goals and objectives. She looks forward to raising the awareness and impact of the NCTF and increasing the number of NCTF grants and annual contributions.
NC Tennis Foundation Awards
The NC Tennis Foundation offers a variety of awards to honor organizations and individuals who are having a positive impact on tennis in the state of North Carolina.
The award nomination process opens in June and remains open until the end of August each year. Awards are handed out at the Tennis Weekend Awards Luncheon held each January.
"The NC Tennis Foundation provides opportunities to participate in the sport of tennis to those that have been historically underserved, those that can truly benefit from it the most. Through its Scholarship program, countless youth have had the opportunity to go to Summer Camps, local clinics, and even College scholarships. The work of the Foundation makes Tennis a Sport for Everyone!"